Cream dispenser



Dec. 7, 1937. w. F. COLEMAN I 2,101,020

CREAM DI SPENSER Filed Feb. 1, 1937 I I a.

Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims:

This invention relates to a liquid dispenser and has as its primary object the provision of a cream container having a valve controlled discharge spout fitted with means whereby on tilting the container in pouring from the spout a measured quantity of cream will be delivered from the spout on each successive pouring operation.

Another object is to provide a cream dispenser of the above character having few operating parts 'of simple construction which may be readily formed and assembled and which are so arranged as to be readily accessible for cleansing purposes.

A further object is to provide a tiltableliquid dispenser embodying a measuring device which is automatic'in its operation under the influence of tilting movement of the container.

With the foregoing objects in view together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear the invention is carried into effect as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the liquid dispenser as seen in vertical section with parts shown in elevation and showing the operating mechanism in its normal position when the container is in its upright position:

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the dispenser showing it as disposed in a tilted position and indicating in dotted lines the operating parts as disposed to efiect discharge of a measured volume of liquid from the container:

Fig. 3 is a detail in horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section and elevation taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows:

Fig. 5 is a view in verticalsection and elevation taken on the'line 5-5 of Fig. 1 asseen in the direction indicated by the arrows:

Fig. 6 is a detail in elevation as seen on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows:

Fig. '7 is a detail'in horizontal section andplan View of the valve mechanism as seen on the line l-l of Fig. 1, with parts removed.

Referring to the drawing more specifically A indicates generally a liquid container which is here shown as in the form of a pitcher and equipped with a handle B by which the container may be lifted and tilted in effecting pouring of a liquid content therefrom. As here shown. the container is formed with an open upper end for filling purposes which is fitted with a suitable closure C- hereshownas embodying a screw cap 8 having a marginal flange 9 formed with diametrically opposed inwardly extending marginal lugs III which are detachably engageable' with circumferentially extending ribs II formed on the. outer perimeter of a neck 52' forming the open 5: upper end portion from the container and which neckvprojects from an inwardly extending flange I3 on the upper end of the container side wall.

In carrying out the invention. a measuring chamber D-isarranged within the container which 19 is formed with a cylindrical interior and has an open outer end opening to the exterior of the container through an opening l4 formed in the side wall of the latter. r

The measuring chamber is formed with an inner 15 end wall l5 provided with an arcuate slot 16 particularly shown in Fig. 6 which slot affords a communication between the interior of the container A and the cylindrical interior of the chamber D. i

Detachably mounted on the outer end of the chamber D is a nozzle E embodying an annular externally'threaded inner end portion ll which is screwed into engagement with internal threads formed on the i'nner periphery of the outer end 25 portion of the chamber D. The spout is formed at the base of the threaded portion H with an external flange l8 having a beveled face l9 formed to seat on a correspondingly beveled end face on the outer margin of the chamber D whereby 30 when the spout is screwed tightly into the chamber D the tapered seat afforded between the nozzleand the chamber will form a tight leakproof joint.

The nozzle E is formed with a septum 20 having 35 an arcuateslot-2l forming a communication between the interior of the chamber and the interior of the nozzle. The nozzle is also formed with a passage 22 leading from the open outer end of the nozzle which passage is formed with an in- 40 clined bottom wall 23 which when the container is disposed in an upright position leads upwardly from the lower margin of the slot 2! so as to form a trap for liquid within the nozzle. Extending axially of the cylindricalinterior of the chamber 45 D is a valve stem F the end portions of which extend through and are slidably supported in the wall |5--and septum 20, and loosely mounted on the stem F is a pair of metallic disc valves G and H extending parallel with the inner faces of the 50 wall l5 and septum 20 and disposed to alternately cover and close the slots I6 and 2| on reciprocation of the valve stem F. jAs here shown the stem F is formed in three sections embodying an immediate section 24' andend sections 25 and 55 '26. The end section 25 is rectangular in cross section and the opening in the end wall 15 has a margin slidably conforming to the section 25 whereby the stem F is held against turning around its axis. The section 215 is connected to a pin 2? protruding from the end of the section 24. The pin 2! extends through an opening 28 in the disc valve G which opening is of slightly larger diameter than the pin 21, and the adjacent ends of the sections 24 and 25 are spaced from opposite faces of the disc valve G so as to afford a loose mounting for the valve to render it self seating on the inner face of the wall l5.

In like fashion the end section 26 is aflixed to the outer end of the section 24 by a pin 29 which passes through an opening 30 in the disc valve H which opening is of a larger diameter than that of the pin 29 so that the valve may oscillate on the pin and thus be self seating on the inner face of the septum 20; the adjacent ends of the sections 24 and 26 being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the disc H to permit oscillatory movement of the latter.

The end section 25 is in the form of a yoke on which is mounted a pin 3| which extends across the space between the yoke side members a and b.

Formed on the inner end of the chamber D is a pair of spaced lugs 32 carrying therebetween a pin 33 extending in parallel relation to the pin 3| on the valve stem section 25 and spaced a short distance therefrom. The pin 33 constitutes a fulcrum support for a valve actuating lever 34 having a bifurcated end portion 35 which is positioned astride the pins 33 and 3| with the lever 34 extending upwardly in the container A. A ball weight 36 is aflixed to the upper end of the lever 34.

The chamber D is arranged so that the axis thereof will extend diametrically of the bottom wall of the chamber in a direction leading from the side of the container carrying the handle 13, which arrangement positions the spout E to protrude from the side of the container A opposite the handle B.

The fulcrum pin 33 is located proximate to the vertical axis or center of the container A being preferably disposed in spaced relation thereto to the side thereof opposite that presented toward the handle, and the lever 34 is bent at its upper end to project across the vertical center of the container to position the Weight 36 on a plane spaced inwardly relative to the plane of the fulcrum pin 33 whereby the weight will act when the container is in its normal upright position to dispose the valve stem F in a forwardmost position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 in which position the valve 1-1 will seat on the septum 20 and close the slot 2| while the valve G will be spaced from the wall l5 so as to maintain the slot l6 open.

Leading upwardly from the forward end of the chamber D is a tube 31 preferably of rectangular cross section which tube follows the contour of the inner surface of the container A and opens to atmosphere through the flange l3.

In the operation of the invention a suitable quantity of liquid to be dispensed is placed in the container A through the open upper end of the latter, whereupon the cover 0 is put in place; the container being preferably disposed in an upright position during this filling operation.

A portion of the liquid thus delivered in the container flows through the slot "5 into the chamber D from which displaced air passes to atmosphere through the tube 31; the casing D thus containing a measured quantity of the liquid according to the designed capacity of the measuring chamber.

When it is desired to discharge the contents of the chamber D the container is tilted as shown in Fig. 2 so that the weight 36 will swing the lever 34 on the fulcrum pin 33 to a position on the opposite side of the vertical center of the container as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 which movement of the lever causes the lower end thereof engaging the pin 3| to shift the valve stem F in a rearward direction and thereby cause the valve G to seat on the wall I5 and close the slot l6 and at the same time cause the valve H to move away from the septum 23 and open the slot 2| whereupon the liquid contents of the chamber D will be delivered to discharge through the nozzle E; the discharged liquid being replaced by air directed to the interior of the chamber D through the tube 31. On again restoring the container to an upright position and if need be tilting it slightly rearward, the weight 33 will act to restore the lever 34 to its normal position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 thereby advancing the valve stem F to its forwardmost position with the valve H seating on the septum 20 and thus closing the slot 2| as advancing the valve G away from the wall I5 to open the slot l6 whereupon refilling of the chamber D will take place, providing there is sufficient liquid in the container so to do. In this fashion by repeated operations the liquid content of the container may be discharged in measured quantities.

For the sake of clearness I have shown the tube 31 as enlarged in size but in practice a tube of very small internal diameter is employed so that any liquid that may enter the tube on filling the chamber D will not be sufficient to materially vary the quantity of liquid discharged from the container.

By forming the nozzle E with the inclined bottom wall 23 drippings from the tip of the nozzle will be obviated on disposing the container in its upright position, since such drippings will drain toward the inner end of the nozzle and be entrapped therein.

When it is desired to cleanse the chamber D and the valve elements the nozzle E is unscrewed from engagement with the chamber and the lever 34 is lifted out of engagement with the pin 3! whereupon the valve stem F with the assembled valves G and H thereon may be withdrawn from the chamber D thus giving access to various parts for thorough cleansing and sterilizing.

While the dispenser herein set forth may be utilized in dispensing measured quantities of var-- ious liquids, it is especially applicable for use in measuring cream; it having special utility in restaurants, cafes and other eating establishments in dispensing and measuring cream served patrons for use in beverages and commonly served in receptacles known as creamers.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction and arrangement shown but may employ such changes and modifications as occasion may require coming within the meaning and scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a liquid dispenser, a tiltable container, a, measuring chamber in said container, a discharge spout leading from said chamber, a septum between said spout and chamber formed with a slot, said chamber having an end wall formed with a slot opening to the interior of said chamber, a valve stem slidably carried by said septum and wall, a pair of disc valves carried by said valve stem interiorly of said chamber one of which is arranged to control the slot in said septum and the other of which is arranged to control the slot in said wall, and means interiorly of said container connecting with said valve stem moveable under tilting movement of the container for shifting said valve stem to alternately open and close said slots.

2. In a liquid dispenser, a tiltable container, a measuring chamber in said container, a discharge spout leading from said chamber, a septum between said spout and chamber formed with a slot, said chamber having an end wall formed with a slot opening to the interior of said chamber, a valve stem slidably carried by said septum and wall, a pair of disc valves carried by said valve stem interiorly of said chamber one of which is arranged to control the slot in said septum and the other of which is arranged to control the slot in said wall, and means interiorly of said container connecting with said valve stem moveable under tilting movement of the container for shifting said valve stem to 'alternately open and close said slots comprising a lever extending upwardly in said container and a weight on the upper end of said lever.

3. In a liquid dispenser, a tiltable container, a measuring chamber in said container, a, discharge nozzle leading from said chamber, a septum at the inner end of said nozzle formed with a discharge slot, said chamber having an inner .end wall formed with an intake slot, a valve stem slidably carried by said septum and wall, a pair of disc valves loosely carried on said stem one of which is arranged adjacent the septum and the other of which is arranged adjacent to said wall, said valve being arranged to alternately seat on said-septum and wall on reciprocating said valve stem, and weight actuated means interiorly of said container for reciprocating said stem on tilting the container. 7

4. 'In a, liquid dispenser, a tiltable container, a measuring chamber in said container, valve means interiorly of said chamber for controlling the intake and discharge of liquid therefrom, aonozzle carried on said container, a septum separating the interior of said nozzle from said chamber having a slot in the lower portion thereof said nozzle having a bottom wall inclining upwardly from said slot.

WILLIAM F. COLEMAN. 

